To the editor:

A few months ago, there were two well-written letters written by two people well known to readers regarding the diocesan merger. As usual, they both made excellent points regarding how this “idea” has disrupted the lives of many people who value faith and our ability to have a more local investment in how we live out that faith. I have been a resident of the Tri-State Area for most of my life. I have my own personal stories, as others do too, of why our diocese, the Diocese of Steubenville, in its present identity, should remain that way.

I don’t think I can add anything of significance to the facts and feelings shared by the women who wrote those two wonderful letters. But what I would like to say is that it has been far too long with far too many excuses as to why a decision has not been made known to us. I haven’t kept a calendar, but I believe it will be almost two years now since this idea was put out there. And there have been far too many events and non- events that have filled that “twilight zone-like” void.

The Catholic church, in its various manifestations as an institution, albeit one of faith, typically does not make decisions by general vote or opinion — not where dogmas or morals are concerned. We also don’t typically do it in matters of human governance, though there are times that would serve us better. I would think the decision has already been made after this amount of time and events have passed. Whether or not it has, maybe its time the decision-makers ask the faithful people of the diocese what they feel should happen. We call that voting.

From the northern end of Jefferson County to the southern end of Lawrence County and the surrounding areas of Ironton, people have different feelings and experiences. Why not find out what they are? Will that further delay a decision? Obviously, we don’t know. Does it matter now?

One final thought, though it may seem to contradict what I’ve said. I can’t imagine that no one has thought of, or at least mentioned publicly, renaming our diocesan territory the Diocese of Steubenville-Marietta or Marietta-Steubenville. Either way, we would have a more local say and identity in who we are and what we are about.

Michael Gromczewski

Steubenville